Can Anyone Challenge Arizona Wildcats In the Pac-12?

By Trevor Lowry

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Wildcats will definitely look different in the 2013-14 college basketball season, but they could very well enter the year by being ranked in the top five regardless. So, can anyone challenge the Wildcats in the Pac-12 in the upcoming season?

Two teams that come to mind are the UCLA Bruins and the Colorado Buffaloes. Sure, both teams will be good, but the Bruins will have a new head coach and Colorado finished three games back in the standings last year.

With that said, UCLA and Colorado will both be returning some talent, despite losing some, which seems to be the trend of the Pac-12.

Nick Johnson will be welcomed back to Arizona and he could be the best player in the conference. He was the third highest scorer on the team last season, putting up 11.5 points per game. It also helps that some very talented freshmen will be joining the team.

These three players could make an instant impact for the team, since the Wildcats are losing some starters.

Sean Miller is a great recruiter, which is a big reason why Arizona usually has a lot of hype entering the season. This year will be no different and his team is set to win the Pac-12 and contend for a national championship.

Sure, there will be good enough teams to contend for a conference title, but Arizona is looking really good on paper. Until someone beats the Wildcats in conference play–which seems like a lifetime away–the Wildcats will be considered the team to beat in the Pac-12.